If you already have an ARK account, login first and select "Join Group"
from the menu next to "XMM-Newton Budget RPS (XMMBUDGET)" and then click on
the Submit Changes button.

If you do not already have an ARK account, enter your e-mail address in
the input field provided and click on the checkbox next to "XMM-Newton
Budget RPS (XMMBUDGET)" and then click on the Join ARK button. Check
your e-mail and click on the activation code found therein. Fill out the ARK
registration form and submit.

Next, proceed to the XMM-Newton Budget RPS web form
and fill out the form. Refer to the form-specific instructions below if
necessary. After you have filled out the form, click the Verify button
to make sure you have entered the form information correctly. If the form
does not validate, ARK/RPS will identify the reason(s) for non-verification,
which you will need to correct.

Once the form verifies successfully, click on the PDF button to
generate the PDF you will need for submission. There is no electronic
submission for XMM-Newton budget proposals; therefore, you will not see a
Submit button here. Refer to the
XMM-Newton GOF instructions for
details.

We also strongly recommend that you download an ASCII file containing the
form data by clicking on the Save button. Form data can be uploaded to
the form by using the Reload button. Note that the file format is the
same as the format of the files generated by the Save button. The
Save and Reload mechanisms will allow you to edit your
filled-in budget forms later without starting over in case you decide you
need to change something.

Additional information on how to use RPS and the answers to some
frequently asked questions can be found on the
RPS Quick Help page.

Short descriptions of the forms and fields are below. The fields are
listed in the same order as found on the web page. The labels for the fields
in the web form will link to the appropriate field description below.

Specify whether the submission is a "Proposal Budget" or a "Budget Revision".
During the Stage 2 submission period, you should select "Proposal Budget". If
your budget was approved for funding following the Stage 2 deadline and you
need to revise your budget, then specify "Budget Revision".

If you like, you may add your middle name or initial(s). Optional.
Up to 12 characters are allowed. The value for this field comes from your
ARK user profile. If it is incorrect,
update your ARK user profile prior to proposal submission.

Your last name (surname). Up to 27 characters are allowed. Required.
The value for this field comes from your
ARK user profile. If it is incorrect,
update your ARK user profile prior to proposal submission.

The name of your department at your institution. Up to 60 characters are allowed.
The value for this field comes from your
ARK user profile. If it is incorrect,
update your ARK user profile prior to proposal submission.

The name of your institution, up to 60 characters. The signature on the
'general' page should be that of an administrator in the institution.
Required.
The value for this field comes from your
ARK user profile. If it is incorrect,
update your ARK user profile prior to proposal submission.

The first line of your institution's address, e.g., the street name, any number
within it, etc. Up to 60 characters.
The value for this field comes from your
ARK user profile. If it is incorrect,
update your ARK user profile prior to proposal submission.

The name of the state in which your institution is located.
Please use USPS-standard, two-letter abbreviations. Required.
The value for this field comes from your
ARK user profile. If it is incorrect,
update your ARK user profile prior to proposal submission.

Your e-mail address. Up to 60 characters. Required. An e-mail receipt will
be sent to this address within 24 hours of the electronic submission
of your proposal, if the e-mail receipt option is checked in your
ARK user profile.
The value for this field comes from your
ARK user profile. If it is incorrect,
update your ARK user profile prior to proposal submission.

This section contains fields for details about your collaborators, if any,
as well as such information as the Congressional district and Zip+4 extension
of your institution. Up to 10 Co-Investigators are allowed. The printed form
must be signed by both the Proposer and an administrator of his/her
institution.

Enter the USPS-standard, two-letter abbreviation for your state/territory,
followed by a space and the ordinal number of your Congressional district in
that state/territory. Be sure to include the appropriate English
ordinal
indicator (an -st, -nd, -rd, or -th suffix).
For example, Maryland's fifth district should be entered as MD 5th.
You can go to
http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/ to determine your
institution's Congressional district. If that tool says your Congressional
district is "At-Large" (such as for the District of Columbia or Puerto Rico),
then use "1st" for the ordinal number. Required.

The CAGE Code is a code that identifies companies or institutions doing or
wishing to do business with the Federal Government. The CAGE Code should
be obtained from your institutional grants officer. Required.

The full-time equivalent (FTE) of the senior researcher(s) working under the
grant is a required field. FTE is a measurement equal to one staff person
working a full-time work schedule for one year. The salary and fringe
benefits are the dollar amounts for one full year (1 FTE). In order to
include labor at this level, both the FTE and salary values must be greater
than zero. Thus, the direct labor cost for the senior researcher(s) is the
FTE multiplied by the sum of the specified salary and fringe benefits
amounts.

The full-time equivalent (FTE) of the junior researcher(s) working under the
grant is a required field. FTE is a measurement equal to one staff person
working a full-time work schedule for one year. The salary and fringe
benefits are the dollar amounts for one full year (1 FTE). In order to
include labor at this level, both the FTE and salary values must be greater
than zero. Thus, the direct labor cost for the junior researcher(s) is the
FTE multiplied by the sum of the specified salary and fringe benefits
amounts.

The full-time equivalent (FTE) of the grad student(s) working under the grant
is a required field. FTE is a measurement equal to one staff person working a
full-time work schedule for one year. The salary and fringe benefits are the
dollar amounts for one full year (1 FTE). In order to include labor at this
level, both the FTE and salary values must be greater than zero.The FTE and
salary values must be greater than zero. Thus, the direct labor cost for the
grad student(s) is the FTE multiplied by the sum of the specified salary and
fringe benefits amounts.

The full-time equivalent (FTE) of the administrative staff working under the
grant is a required field. FTE is a measurement equal to one staff person
working a full-time work schedule for one year. The salary and fringe
benefits are the dollar amounts for one full year (1 FTE). In order to
include labor at this level, both the FTE and salary values must be greater
than zero. Thus, the direct labor cost for the administrative staff is the
FTE multiplied by the sum of the specified salary and fringe benefits
amounts.

If there is some other type of direct cost associated with the grant,
describe it in the space provided (up to 40 characters) and specify the
amount in dollars. Up to three such costs may be specified.

If you desire a start date for the performance period different from
the default value, the PR release date, check the box provided and specify
the date when you want the grant funding to start. The default is the release
of the PR, which is the earliest possible start date. If you want the grant
to start later in the Fiscal Year (1 October - 30 September), you may specify
a different start date. For example, the budget proposal for AO-17 takes
place in the summer of 2018. FY19 funds will used for AO-17 grants which
means that grant periods cannot start before 1 October 2018 (and in practice
may start a few months later). If you want the grant to start 1 April 2018,
you should enter that date. (For AO-17, the start date can be no later than
31 August 2019.) If the PR release date is after the requested start of the
performance period, the performance period start date will default to the PR
release date.